Even though this little device (known for its reflective ability as a Cat's Eye) was developed in Britain in 1933, Cape Town's roads only had them installed in the 1980s. I remember one night as a kid being fascinated by the hundreds of newly installed reflective eyes watching us as we drove home along one of our national highways.
Since then they've helped keep me, and many others, safe on poorly-lit roads. I only wish that there were more of these little helpers on more of our back-roads, as they're often the most poorly lit areas.
I find it really disconcerting not being able to see bends in the road ahead, or, when it's raining, not knowing whether I'm veering over into another lane or not. Well done Percy Shaw, this really was a simple yet brilliant invention.